The Big Drink Rethink

https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Ep 101: Before You Start Dry January, Listen to This | Alcohol Coaching | Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

Is Dry January on your mind, but you’re already feeling the weight of “new year, new me” expectations? In the first of this mini series, Anna welcomes the New Year with a gentle reality check for anyone considering a break from alcohol whether you’re looking to quit, cut down, or just get curious about your drinking habits.

With compassion and clarity, she unpacks why pressure, grand declarations, and all-or-nothing thinking so often sabotages our best intentions in January. Instead, she offers a different way to embrace curiosity and exploration as you rethink your relationship with drinking.

Anna invites you to notice your patterns, get honest about your hopes, and see “wobbles” as part of real, lasting change, not failure. Start the year with self-kindness, realistic strategies, and a plan that supports you, rather than scares you.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Why taking a break from drinking is brilliant anytime

00:40 The cultural pressure of New Year’s resolutions

02:14 “Challenge mode” and the trap of all-or-nothing thinking

06:12 Why wobbles are proof of learning and progress

07:45 How to make January an exploration, not a test

08:11 The real question: What are you hoping to feel in your life this year?

09:09 The first step: Start noticing your habits with kindness, not judgment

09:20 Permission to be a beginner, and simple ways to support yourself

10:01 Anna’s Alcohol Experiment and how to get real, daily support.

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Connect with Anna:

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Ep 100: Your Christmas Day Pep Talk | Alcohol Coaching | Dec 25, 2025

Show notes

Are you showing up for Christmas wanting change, but feeling swallowed up by old patterns, pressure, or the ever-present invitation to pour a drink? In this uplifting milestone episode of The Big Drink Rethink (100 episodes!), your host Anna Donaghey offers a heart-to-heart Christmas Day pep talk for anyone questioning their drinking, or simply craving a more honest and intentional holiday experience.

Through lived experience and a coach’s insight, she gently unpacks why Christmas stirs up overwhelm, exhaustion, and even unexpected loneliness, alongside the pressure of old habits. She guides you back to your own intentions, with a practical, simple toolkit for resetting and choosing the version of you that feels truest even if you’re the only one who sees it right now.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Anna’s gratitude for every listener whether brand new or following since the beginning

00:31 Why Christmas is such a complicated mix of comfort and challenge

01:53 Today isn’t about perfection

02:17 You’re not the sum of your past Decembers

03:03 Experiment: What does Christmas feel like without alcohol?

03:52 How to navigate triggers: Pause, Check In, Choose.

05:21 You’re allowed to take up space in a different way

06:13 Gentle encouragement to hold your ground with clarity

06:39 Have a proud and present Christmas Day, plus where to find resources.

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Connect with Anna:

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Ep 99: Your Christmas Survival Guide - Navigating the Dynamics & Triggers | Alcohol Coaching | Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

Are your Christmas traditions serving you or just sabotaging your intentions for change? This time of year isn’t just about parties and presents, it’s a complex mix of family dynamics, old patterns, emotional triggers steeped in decades of drinking. In this powerful episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey takes a gentle yet practical approach to surviving (and actually enjoying) Christmas and New Year, especially if you’re rethinking your relationship with alcohol.

Drawing on lived experience, psychology, and coaching tools, Anna unpacks why Christmas stirs up excitement, dread, and everything in between. She shares a step-by-step plan for protecting your peace, setting boundaries, dealing with triggers, and redefining who you want to be this season.

Whether you’re aiming for your first alcohol-free Christmas or just want it to feel more intentional (and less chaotic), this episode puts clarity, self-kindness, and genuine joy at the heart of the festive season.

Here are the Highlights:

00:41 Why Christmas stirs up mixed emotions and challenges

03:09 How old patterns and family roles shape festive drinking

06:32 The power of identity: Who do you want to be this Christmas?

09:46 Mel Robbins “let them” theory to deal with other people’s behaviour

11:10 Own your choices, and protect your peace

13:54 How environments trigger old habits

16:53 Staying rooted in your intentions

19:11 Planning for emotional flashpoints over the Christmas period

23:41 Visualisation worksheet: How to map out your big days

27:34 Dealing with New Year's Eve hype and midnight pressure

29:57 Why a “fresh” January is more important than a “perfect” December

32:11 Regulate your nervous system with breathwork & micro-resets

34:00 Moving through the season with clarity and pride

35:00 Anna’s Alcohol Experiment and extra support for Dry January

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Connect with Anna:

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Ep 98: How to Survive and Actually Enjoy Christmas Parties | Alcohol Coaching | Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

What if the festive season could bring more connection, confidence, and genuine fun… without the dread (or the hangover)? In this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, your host Anna shares how to survive Christmas parties, whether you’re alcohol free, moderating, or just rethinking your relationship with drinking.

Drawing on personal stories and practical coaching insight, Anna covers how Christmas parties often trigger reflex drinking and cultural pressures, and shares simple, powerful strategies to help you stay true to what you want from the season. From pre-party mindset resets to mastering your exit plan (hello, Irish Goodbye!). This episode is packed with real-life tools, gentle encouragement, and tips for waking up clear-headed, proud, and totally FOMO-free.

Here are the Highlights:

00:41 Why Christmas parties stir up both excitement and anxiety

03:25 How cultural scripts and past habits hijack our choices

08:05 The three key questions to set your party intentions

11:25 Alcohol free versus moderation, how to pick your best path

12:50 Busting myths, you’re not the only one cutting down!

16:23 Pre-party grounding and creating “joy drinks”

22:05 Social pressure, responses, and the power of changing the subject

24:22 Finding your wingman and safe spaces

26:42 Micro check-ins: Don’t confuse boredom with wanting a drink

27:52 Planning your exit and mastering the Irish Goodbye

30:37 End of night rituals for real rewards

Ready to rethink your Christmas party season? Tune in to get inspired, energised, and equipped for whatever December throws your way.

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Connect with Anna:

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Ep 97: Toolkit 101 – A Brilliant Tool to Help You Outgrow Alcohol Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

What if your relationship with alcohol was more about nourishment than willpower? In this eye-opening toolkit episode of The Big Drink Rethink, Anna shares one of her most powerful tools yet, a framework to help you discover what truly fuels and sustains you, making it easier to outgrow alcohol for good.

Drawing on personal experience and Tara Mohr’s Core Nutrients Framework, Anna Donaghey guides you to uncover what you’re genuinely “thirsty for,” and how meeting these deeper needs naturally eases your reliance on booze. Whether you’re navigating the pressures of the holiday season or simply wanting to rethink your drinking habits, this episode is packed with practical exercises and gentle wisdom to help you feel more alive, grounded, and connected - no willpower required!

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Habits stick not through willpower, but by feeling nourished

03:10 Christmas amplifies everything, joy, loneliness, and chaos

09:12 Alcohol offers temporary comfort and connection

10:08 Reflect on your true cravings and emotional needs

13:48 Creativity, belonging, and connection energise your inner life

25:13 Prioritise self-nourishment, download the reflection sheet at thebigdrinkrethink.com/tools

26:57 Identifying core needs brings clarity, immediate well-being, and builds lasting habits.

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Connect with Anna:

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Ep 96: How Quitting Alcohol Made Space for Meaning with Dan D’Souza Nov 27, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever questioned whether alcohol might be quietly dimming the best parts of your life? In this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, Anna Donaghey chats to Dan D'Souza, co-founder of MUUSH to explore how quitting alcohol made room for more meaning, creativity, and connection. From high-flying networking in boozy city jobs to finding real nourishment in purpose and daily joy, Dan shares his journey through the “grey area” of drinking and the practical, inspiring steps he took to rethink his relationship with alcohol.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Intro: Dan D'Souza, co-founder of MUUSH, quit alcohol to prioritise purpose, and connection

04:00 Missed grades led to studying marketing at Sussex

09:54 Alcohol remains a social expectation and facilitator in business

15:54 Drinking can still be a problem if it depletes or distracts you

17:33 A turning point in 2023, after losing a bag with a phone and laptop

21:08 Focus on what feels good and kind

23:57 Removing alcohol creates space for reflection, opens new chapters, and fosters clarity for life's next steps

27:44 Spending less on alcohol allows for more purposeful spending

35:24 Focus on identifying priorities

37:07 Bridging taste and function in non-alcoholic drinks

43:00 Balance values and small pleasures while maintaining clarity and energy

46:02 Seeking professional help and finding inspiration from others

49:14 Friendships can evolve to provide emotional support

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

About Dan D’Souza:

Dan D’Souza, co-founder of MUUSH - Lion’s Mane-based drinks brand. On a mission to bridge taste and function with Lion's Mane based drinks.

10+ years marketing experience at household name brands including Virgin, Octopus investments, Citibank.

His story really captures the grey area so many people find themselves in with alcohol.

Dan stopped drinking in October 2023 whilst working in previous businesses and felt there needed to be more functional and non-alcohol drinks available.

Connect with Dan:

Linkedin:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-d-souza/?originalSubdomain=uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan_d.souza/?hl=en

Linkedin (MUUSH): https://www.linkedin.com/company/104243925/admin/dashboard/

Instagram (MUUSH): https://www.instagram.com/drinkmuush/?hl=en

Website: www.muush.co

Ep 95: Q&A - Why Can't I Just Let Go...Without Alcohol Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

Letting go, relaxing, and releasing especially without alcohol can feel out of reach for many. In this insightful, toolbox-packed Q&A episode, Anna Donaghey tackles questions from listeners and coaching clients about why it can be so hard to relax or "let go," even after quitting drinking.

This episode explores how patterns of control, nervous system wiring, shame, and old beliefs shape our inability to relax, and offers practical, compassionate tools for beginning to unlearn these habits and find true safety and release.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Listener questions about “letting go”

01:57 Listener feels unable to soften and release

03:18 The nervous system doesn’t know how to release on its own

04:24 It's not that you're broken, the body has learned holding on is safe

05:33 Why we grip so tightly, and the link to safety and self-protection

06:42 Fear of falling apart, feeling emotions, and losing control

07:38 What does your tightness think it’s protecting?

08:05 Why “trying hard” to release is counterproductive

09:18 Create conditions where release can happen naturally

12:05 The importance of permission in self-care and self-worth

12:48 Seeking support, therapy, and accepting oneself

14:06 Start with possibility

17:19 Replace drinking rituals with calming alternatives

18:04 Healing is slow, small acts accumulate and become safety signals

19:09 Layers of trust: trust in self, trust in others, and (even) trust in life

22:31 “I don’t have to carry this anymore”; letting go doesn’t mean giving up

22:50 Release isn’t a destination, it’s a returning rhythm like breathing

25:03 Micro-moments of softening as daily healing gestures

26:16 Please submit your questions for future episodes.

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Ep 94. Alcohol, Trauma & The Search for Safety with Dr. Evette Rose Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

How deep do the patterns that drive our drinking really go? In this transformative episode, Anna talks to Dr. Evette Rose, internationally renowned holistic counselor, trauma recovery expert, and author of Metaphysical Anatomy to reveal how trauma, inherited stress, and family conditioning can hardwire us for coping mechanisms like alcohol, long before we ever pick up a drink.

You’ll discover addiction is not just about willpower or habits. It’s about healing the imprints left by childhood, family history, and even foetal development. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking not just sobriety, but true freedom from old emotional wiring.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Exploring trauma, nervous system wiring, and alcohol

03:25 Growing up: alcoholism, violence, and longing for connection

07:36 How childhood patterns of stress shape identity

09:18 Repeating family patterns in relationships

12:09 Intergenerational trauma and addiction predisposition

15:10 The impact of maternal stress on addiction risk

17:01 The placenta as a “memory bank” for trauma

18:36 Not just nurture, trauma transfer at a cellular and biological level

22:01 How generational trauma can be “programmed” into you

28:38 Coping mechanisms beyond alcohol

33:00 Why focusing only on “fixing” yourself keeps you stuck

35:37 Rapid regulation exercises for triggers and cravings

41:22 Practical body-based tools for rewiring safety

48:00 What if you don’t know your family history?

51:05 Healing not as correcting flaws, but updating old survival patterns.

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

https://metaphysicalanatomy.com/free-ebook-restoring-the-emotional-body/

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

About Dr. Evette Rose

Dr. Evette Rose is an internationally renowned holistic counsellor, trauma recovery expert, and author of 21 books, including the global best-seller Metaphysical Anatomy Volume 1: Your Body Is Talking, Are You Listening? This groundbreaking work explores 722 ailments and the emotional roots behind them, based on over 7,000 client case studies from around the world.

Evette specialises in helping people decode the hidden emotional messages behind physical symptoms - and her methods have helped thousands break free from chronic pain, trauma, and emotional stress. Her work has been recognised globally, not least when she recently presented her latest research at a prestigious medical conference in London, UK.

Website: https://www.metaphysicalanatomy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.evetteroseofficial/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metaphysicalanatomy/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGkoVX_JnMTvGGH3Q5LJIWw

Evette’s Free eBook:

Ep 93. Alcohol, Shame & The Art of Release with Emma Lyons Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

Is quitting alcohol just about the drink itself, or is there something deeper at play? Anna Donaghey sits down with trauma-informed healer Emma Lyons, founder of The Trauma Matrix, to explore how shame hides beneath so many of our habits, including drinking, and keeps us stuck in self-judgment, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. If you’ve ever felt that gnawing ‘not enough’ feeling, or wondered why cutting back on booze feels so hard, this episode will help you see what’s really fueling the urge and give you powerful new tools for release.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Why releasing alcohol requires releasing shame

02:08 Meet Emma Lyons

04:49 Family scapegoat, inherited shame & the roots of addiction

07:54 Why therapy doesn’t work until you address shame

09:00 Shame vs. guilt: The toxic cocktail that attacks our sense of self

12:40 Manipulation, compliance, and the gaslighting of “for your own good”

13:39 How shame hijacks the body and drives coping strategies

17:16 Shame shuts down empathy

19:37 Narcissists, repression, and the Velcro effect of internalised shame

22:01 Scapegoats, golden children, and not being yourself

25:54 Imposter syndrome, perfectionism and anxiety are all just shame with better PR

28:43 Numbing shame with alcohol

30:51 How not-enoughness fuels drinking

32:01 Why shame is always toxic and why society says otherwise

35:41 How children can pick up parental shame, accidentally and unconsciously

38:39 Drinking to numb, feeling flawed, and repeating the pattern

39:31 You can’t bully shame into submission

48:17 What happens when shame is released

48:42 Why alcohol loses its job when shame no longer needs numbing

49:28 Where to find Emma Lyons (+free gift for listeners)

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com